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- VALLEY: Sultans finish undefeated season
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- DV: LIONS ROAR TO CHAMPIONSHIP
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2023 All-East County, all-league football
- Updated: January 2, 2024
2023 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
ECS staff report
Helix quarterback Ryland Jessee, the 2023 East County Player of the Year on offense.
EL CAJON – The 2023 All-East County football team, asselected by the staff of East County Sports.com.
Started by The Daily Californian newspaper (1892-2000), thisis the 49th edition of honorees among Grossmont Conderence schools, plus other area varsty ballclubs.
Leading the list is Helix High senior quarterback Ryland Jessee, who recently announced a change of his college selection and will now attend Michigan State.
Jessee led the Highlanders to a stellar 9-2 record, but both setbacks coming in double-overtime to both Open Division finalists in the San Diego Section: champion Granite Hills and runner-up Lincoln in the CIF semifinals.
While Jessee is the East County MVP, the Offensive Player of the Year is Highlanders teammate Kevin Allen III, the ballclub’s running back. He was also named the Grossmont Hills League offensive player of the year by league coaches.
Allen rushed for 1,295 yards on the season.
Among his 182 carries, 22 went for touchdowns with a long run of 66 yards. He surpassed the 100-yard plateau on six occasions.
Granite Hills offensive tackle Alejandro Arzola, who captured the CIFSDS Offensive Player of the Year award to become the third lineman to capture the award, gain his second straight lineman of the year award for the second consecutive season. The Eagles’ standout took the award last season under his old name (Tejada) before changing his name when he turned 18 years old.
Granite Hills strong safety Jordan Blaze, the 2023 East County Player of the Year on defense.
On defense, strong safety Jordan Glaze of Granite Hills was tabbed Player of the Year. He is a two-time winner of the award.
Glaze helped propel the Eagles to a second straight berth to the CIF state playoffs after capturing the school’s first section championship since 1975.
The coaching award was given to Verlain Betofe of Mount Miguel, mentoring the Matadors to ther first CIFSDS title since 1901 — one season prior to the creation of the Grossmont Conference.
Mount Miguel (12-2 overall), the section’s Division 4 titlists, set single-season school records for victories and points scored (599), while falling one short of the school mark after posting four shutouts.
Meanwhile, the Matadors swept all four major awards in the Grossmont Valley League: Matthew Barton (offense), Jeremiah Castillo (defense), Johnny Castro (kicker) and Betofe (coach).
In the GHL, awards selected by the coaches went to Kevin Allen (offense), Blaze (defense), Josh Hossman Lees (kicker) and Kellan Cobbs (coach).
Cobbs, who just completed his 12th season guiding the Eagles, now owns a career record of 93-48 (.638).
Before falling in the Southern California regional final, Granite Hills established a school and East County record with 21 consecutive victories.
New: Hey! Don’t see your favorite player? Look at the bottom of the list, where we are introducing a special category for two-way players.
Awards in other categories will be announced shortly or are below:
- Rookie of the Year: Zach Benitez, Granite Hills.
- Kickers of the Year: Robert Petrich, Granite Hills, and Josh Hossmann Lees, Helix
- Bill Dickens’ Moist Inspirational Player: no nominees received
- Unsung Hero Award:no nominations received.
- Special Teams player of the year (non-kicker): no nominations received
- Most Improved Player: no nominations received
2023 All-East County Team
Offense – First Team
Quarterbacks
Ryland Jessee, Helix, Sr.
Zach Benitez, Granite Hills, Fr.
Running backs
Kevin Allen, Helix, Sr.
Max Turner, Granite Hills, Jr.
Davian McGowan,Mount Miguel, Sr.
Receivers
Brenden Lewis, Granite Hills, Jr.
Jackson Daniels, Helix, Sr.
Brandon Arrington, Helix, So.
Josh Zander, Granite Hills, Sr.
Offensive linemen
Alejandro Arzola, Granite Hills, Sr.
Rowdy Seda, Granite Hills, Sr.
Ryan Mason, Helix, Sr.
Orlando Nambo, Helix, Sr.
Devin Marsh, El Capitan, Sr.
Placekickers
Robert Petrich, Granite Hills, Sr.
Josh Hossmann lees, Helix, Sr.
Offense – Second Team
Quarterbacks
Matthew Barton, Mount Miguel, Sr
Brandt Barker, El Capitan, Jr.
Running backs
Johnathan Sablan, Steele Canyon, Sr.
Pablo Jackson, Granite Hills, Jr.
Receivers
Parris Vernon, Mount Miguel, So.
Paris Dixon, ECVHS, Sr.
Dylan Eads, Christian, Sr.
Cody Bigby, Grossmont, Sr
Offensive linemen
Joseph Hunt. Steele Canyon, Sr.
Nathan Manzo, Steele Canyon, Sr.
Caleb Smith, Grossmont, Sr.
Santana Del Leal, Monte Vista, Sr.
Jacob Courvette, West Hills, Sr.
Placekickers
Johnny Castro, Mount Miguel, Sr.
Defense – First Team
Linemen
Daniel Larsina Helix, Sr.
Moshi Tileia, Granite Hills, Sr.
Anthony Gash, Helix, Sr.
Damarrion White, Granite Hills, Sr.
Linebackers
Manoouel Saka, Steele Canyon, Sr.
Tyler Bertalan, Granite Hills, Sr.
Eric White, Mount Miguel, Sr.
Dominic DeArcos, Mount Miguel, Jr.
Defensive backs
Jordan Glaze, Granite Hills, Sr.
Nokoi Maddox, Granite Hills, Sr.
Carter Ross, Helix, Sr.
Defense – Second Team
Linemen
Jordan Gash, Helix, Sr.
Jacob Suter, Grossmont, Sr.
Marvin Jacobs, Mount Miguel, Sr.
Dominic DeArcos, Mount Miguel, Jr,
Valente Medina, Monte Vista, Sr.
Linebackers
Danny Degraff, Santana, Sr.
Cody Musser. West Hills, Sr.
Kairo Kahanaanui, Helix, Sr.
Brady Eads, Christian, Jr.
Defensive backs
Jerzel Ramirez, Granite Hills, Jr.
Kaiden Chambers. West Hills, Sr.
Joshua Ferrara, Grossmont, Sr.
All-Purpose – First Team
OL/LB Jeremiah Savaiinaea, Helix, Sr
WR/DE Jeremiah Castillo, Mount Miguel, Sr
WR/DB Braylon Cardwell, Mount Miguel, Jr.
WB/DB Chance LaChappa, El Capitan, Sr.
OL/DL Brooks arwell, Christian, Sr.
OL/DL Ryder Jennings, Christian Sr.
WR/CB Chris Cosio, ECVHS, Sr.
Coach of the Year
Verlain Betofe, Mount Miguel
Coaches’ All-League Teams
All-Grossmont Hills
Offense First Team
OL: Alejandro Tejeda (Granite Hills)
OL: Ryan Mason (Helix)
OL: Joseph Hunt (Steele Canyon)
OL: Rowdy Seda (Granite Hills)
OL: Jeremiah Savaiinaea (Helix)
RB: Kevin Allen (Helix)
RB: Max Turner (Granite Hills)
WR: Cody Bigby (Grossmont)
WR: Brenden Lewis (Granite Hills)
WR: Jackson Daniels (Helix)
QB: Ryland Jessee (Helix)
Offense Second Team
OL: Nathan Manzo (Steele Canyon)
OL: Zeph Carter (Granite Hills)
OL: Orlando Nambo (Helix)
OL: Caleb Smith (Grossmont)
OL: Jacob Courvette (West Hills)
RB: Johnathan Sablan (Steele Canyon)
RB: Pablo Jackson (Granite Hills)
WR: Kyler Oberg (West Hills)
WR: Josh Zander (Granite Hills)
WR: Brandon Arrington (Helix)
QB: Zac Benitez (Granite Hills)
Defense First Team
DL: Daniel Larsina (Helix)
DL: Moshi Tileia (Granite Hills)
DL: Damarrion White (Granite Hills)
DL: Anthony Gash (Helix)
LB: Jeremiah Savaiinaea (Helix)
LB: Tyler Bertalan (Granite Hills)
LB: Manoouel Saka (Steele Canyon)
DB: Jordan Glaze (Granite Hills)
DB: No’Koi Maddox (Granite Hills)
DB: Carter Ross (Helix)
DB: Jerzel Ramirez (Granite Hills)
Defense Second Team
DL: Kuba Polak (Granite Hills)
DL: Jordan Gash (Helix)
DL: Jacob Suter (Grossmont)
DL: Travis Ford (Granite Hills)
LB: Cody Musser (West Hills)
LB: Kairo Kahanaanui (Helix)
LB: Danny Degraff (Santana)
DB: Kaiden Chambers (West Hills)
DB: Joshua Ferrara (Grossmont)
DB: Parker Vance (Granite Hills)
DB: Collin Dill (West Hills)
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Allen (Helix)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jordan Glaze (Granite Hills)
KICKER OF THE YEAR
Josh Hossman Lees (Helix)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Kellan Cobbs (Granite Hills)
All-Grossmont Valley
Mount Miguel QB Matthew Barton
Offense First Team
OL: Devin Marsh (El Capitan)
OL: Drake Schmidt (El Capitan)
OL: Santana DelLeal (Monte Vista)
OL: Angel Sotelo (Mount Miguel)
RB: Davian McGowan (Mount Miguel)
WR: Chance LaChappa (EL Capitan)
WR: Paris Dixon (El Cajon Valley)
WR: Jeremiah Castillo (Mount Miguel)
WR: Parris Vernon (Mount Miguel)
WR: Braylon Cardwell (Mount Miguel)
QB: Matthew Barton (Mount Miguel)
Offense Second Team
OL: Dristan Williams (Mount Miguel)
OL: Angel Cortez (Mount Miguel)
OL: Dominic Jones (El Capitan)
OL: Elekana Ta’A (Monte Vista)
OL: Chris Zarmiento (Mount Miguel)
RB: Jaidyn Ellison (Monte Vista)
RB: Brady Jorelemon (El Capitan)
RB: Dominic Silva (Valhalla)
WR: Julian May (El Capitan)
Athlete: Darick Dubose (El Cajon Valley)
QB: Brandt Barker (El Capitan)
Defense First Team
DE: Jeremiah Castillo (Mount Miguel)
DB: Braylon Cardwell (Mount Miguel)
DB: Chance LaChappa (El Capitan)
DL: Marvin Jacobs (Mount Miguel)
DL: Dominic DeArcos (Mount Miguel)
DL: Valente Medina (Monte Vista)
DL: Marlon Ames (El Capitan)
LB: Eric White (Mount Miguel)
LB: Christian Tyler Lopez (Mount Miguel)
LB: Gavin Ames (El Capitan)
LB: Brayden Andrus (Monte Vista)
Defense Second Team
DB: Ryder Lynn (El Capitan)
DB: Johnny Castro (Mount Miguel)
DB: Adrian Gonzalez (Monte Vista)
DB: Alex Villanueva (Monte Vista)
DB: Chris Cosio (El Cajon Valley)
DL: Chris Zarmiento (Mount Miguel)
DL: Hector Armenta (Mount Miguel)
LB: Dom Lopez (Mount Miguel)
LB: Easton Sanchez (Mount Miguel)
LB: Omar Jaimes (El Cajon Valley)
LB: Aaron Altamirano (El Capitan)
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Matthew Barton (Mount Miguel)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jeremiah Castillo (Mount Miguel)
KICKER OF THE YEAR
Johnny Castro (Mount Miguel)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Verlain Betofe (Mount Miguel)
Granite Hills was more than the CIF Open Division football champions. The Eagles cheer squad also took the section crown, and will now head to Florida for the national championships.
